HostGator and GoDaddy are both very recognizable names in the web hosting business. In fact, they both make use of cartoony mascots that are reminiscent of the funky times when web space sold to young, geeky nerds. Today the old, not so funky nerds are buying web space as well, but that’s a whole different story – it just means the business has gone big.

Started back in the 90s, GoDaddy has come a long way and today is valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Its business ranges across three main areas – domain, web hosting and business applications. In web hosting alone, it holds almost 20% of the global market share.

HostGator on the other hand is just as long in the tooth, starting out in the early 2000s but eventually getting bought over by Endurance International Group in 2012. Today it remains one of the cornerstones of the web hosting industry and is a strong (if smaller) competitor for GoDaddy.

The Nuts and Bolts

GoDaddy plans are affordable and for less than $2.30 per month you get very decent specifications on hosting. It also boasts an uptime of 99.9% – which isn’t the best but is still well in line with industry standards.

What gives it a slight edge overall in the business is its extensive range of services. Aside from hosting, it is the world’s largest domain name registrar and even has a domain marketplace for those interested in that area. It blends all its services into a neatly streamlined experience.

HostGator on the other hand has proven to offer very solid server performance and in fact, I have seen it come in at 99.99% uptime on occasion. Combine this with a stunning sub-50ms server response time (from their US-based server) and it is a wonder that anyone would choose a web host other than them.

In customer service, I have to say that GoDaddy has the edge even with the size of its business. If I had to take a guess as to why, my thinking again would go back to the fact that HostGator is now owned by EIG, which doesn’t have a sterling record in the area of customer service.

There is a downside to GoDaddy as well, since its size means that it places an intense focus on commercialization. GoDaddy users will be familiar with strong upsell tactics that the host employs when they are trying to renew their packages. I understand where that could be a little annoying – how many services does a guy hosting a website really need, after all?

Although both these hosts aren’t on the official WordPress.com recommended host lists, HostGator also has the distinction of doing very well in out user surveys. It clinched top spot among brands in two surveys WHSR has carried out.

Verdict: Depends on Your Needs

As the top dog in the business, GoDaddy has the size and financial backing it needs to offer users very competitive rates to get them quickly on board. This means that it’s great as a quick alternative for smaller sites looking to start off.

Larger business may also decide to give them a go simply due to the range of services they offer. For example, their business applications can offer companies access to things that they might need like Office 365 and comprehensive email marketing services.

In terms of actual performance however, I think that HostGator has a slight edge and it has proven to offer a stable hosting solution at many levels for a long time now. Just don’t expect too much in term of their customer service and you’ll be fine.

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from hosting companies listed on this website. Our opinions are based on real experience and actual
hosting service data. Please read our review policy to understand how we
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